Before guiding your child towards the spiritual path, accept it in your life first. Children can feel when parents fake something. So it is important to be completely true to what you believe in before nurturing your child’s spiritual side. Developing spirituality is a lifelong journey towards self-discovery. What is spirituality?The dictionary defines it as being concerned about the human soul and spirit as opposed to physical and material things. It does not matter in which religion you believe. It is important to believe in the energy that is greater than us. Spirituality is developing life values like gratitude, compassion, sharing, acceptance, faith, etc. Being spiritual is respecting life, respecting the rights of others, and appreciating the environment. For example, teaching ‘sharing’ to children is important; be it sharing their toys with other children or sharing their time and energy with elderly people. It is important to let our children know how these actions make other people feel good. Not to mention when we help others, we are truly helping ourselves. Spiritual kids are happier and healthier and have a better sense of values and morals.Spiritual well being leads to fewer chances of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Spiritual well being also leads to emotional well being in children. There is no particular age when you can start instilling spirituality in your children. You can teach your babies and toddlers too. At this age, they might not understand it mentally but they will feel the energies, vibrations, and love and will know that this is a state of being. Here are a few ways to nurture your child spiritually:<ol><li>Set an intention:&nbsp;First thing in the morning have everyone in your family set their intention for the day. Have your children state their intention, for example, their intention for the day could be something like: I intend to be mindful in school today, or I intend to have a happy day.&nbsp;At the end of the day, ask them if their day turned out as they intended it to. If not, ask them where it went off track and what they could have done differently.</li><li>Gratitude journal: Make it a habit that everyone in the family writes down at least one thing they are grateful for every day in the evening. It can be anything from being happy for being alive to thanking another family member for something they have done for them. Alternatively, if you as a family eat dinner together, have everyone at the dinner table state what they are grateful for.</li><li>Guided visualisation: Children are visual learners so guided visualisations or meditations work great. Guided visualisations can create healthily, thought-provoking images to transform negativity into positive affirmations. Guided visualisations provide relief from stress and anxiety, decrease panic attacks, boost self-esteem, and provides opportunities for children to connect with themselves on deeper levels. Guided visualisations are best to use before bed so as to calm your baby down and put them in the space to have good dreams.</li><li>Martial Arts:&nbsp;As odd as this sounds, martial arts actually emphasises self-control, respect, and compassion. Apart from teaching self-control and discipline, martial arts boosts self-esteem and confidence, it provides a tool to channel anger. It is also a great exercise</li><li>Yoga:&nbsp;Yoga brings about inner peace, is a good way to increase children’s awareness of their own bodies, aids their sense of balance. It also reduces stress and lowers anxiety levels in children.</li><li>Arts and Crafts:&nbsp;Arts and crafts provide children with the opportunity of being creative and use their imagination. Hence, art and craft is great way to explore spirituality. Art also helps children in expressing their deepest feelings for which they don’t have the words to say out loud. Children tell the truth through their art.</li><li>Explore nature: Exploring nature helps in self-discovery. You can teach several aspects of life using the elements of nature. For example, you can teach your children about transformation by talking about butterflies; teach them about the interconnectedness of life by talking about ecosystems while hiking in the forest; teach them about conservation by picking up trash wherever you are; take them for stargazing. There are endless ways to teach children about the universe and its place in it through the exploration of nature.</li><li>Community Service: Volunteering for a community service project can provide children with a broader understanding of how they fit in the world. It helps them develop compassion and empathy for others and find gratitude that their own circumstances are different from others.</li><li>Encourage your child to share his or her dreams with you: By showing a genuine interest in your child’s dreams, the child will learn to value them. Encouragement to share will build their self-confidence and in turn create an optimistic and cheerful approach to life. By encouraging a child to share aspirations we are ultimately supporting them in believing and achieving them.</li><li>Listen to your child with full attention and concentration: When children try to communicate but aren’t heard and honoured, they try to guard their feelings over time and keep to themselves most of the time. Take time out to sit and listen to your child’s joys, achievements, frustrations, and dreams.</li></ol>

Children can feel when parents fake something. So it is important to be completely true to what you believe in before nurturing your child’s spiritual side. 

Nurturing your child's Spirituality

Spirituality keeps one grounded and helps an individual live an emotionally and mentally content life.

Nurturing your childs Spirituality

Children should be trained for swimming after the age of 4 years because that is when they are developmentally ready. Swimming Essentials to be kept handy while going swimming with your child:<ul><li>Swimming costume</li><li>Towel</li><li>Shampoo and Shower gel</li><li>Hair clips and bands</li><li>Swimming Cap</li><li>Goggles (Swimming Glasses)</li><li>Armbands</li><li>Swim nappies (if required)</li><li>Tan lotion</li></ul> Children are often quite excited about water, but do consider these water safety basics when you are in a pool with your child:<ul><li>Keep a continuous watch on kids; this is mandatory everywhere - in a bathtub or in a swimming pool.</li><li>Check the quality and strength of the tubes that your child is using.</li><li>Don’t be pushy. If the child is too scared, take them out of the water and try again later.</li><li>If the child is learning to swim, an adult should swim at arm’s length (close to the child).</li><li>Children should be away from the pool when adults are not around, never leave the child unsupervised.</li></ul>

Swimming pools can pose some danger so it's better to take precautions. Children should be trained for swimming and taken care of while about basic water safety rules.

Swimming Pool essentials for kids to make their pool time safe

Swimming pools can pose some danger so it's better to take proper precautions.

Safe Swimming Pool Essentials and Considerations for Children

It's trickier to keep babies safe in monsoons, but taking care of a few important things can make it alright: <ul><li>Make sure that your baby’s clothes are dry and warm. Clothes often remain cold and damp after a wash in the monsoon. Clothes that remain damp can result in your baby catching a fever or cold. It is also best to opt for breathable cotton fabrics and avoid synthetics that may cause rashes.</li><li>Monsoons are always accompanied by several insects and germs like flies, fungus mosquitoes, etc. Hence the chances of babies falling ill also increase during monsoons. To keep your baby free of these, ensure that you and everyone else handling your baby should stay clean. Keep an eye out for nappy rash - change diapers regularly and apply a good diaper rash cream.</li><li>Disinfect your home and surroundings too regularly to keep germs away. Unclean surroundings can harbour many disease-causing insects and pests, as well as bacteria.</li><li>Monsoon brings with it malaria and dengue causing mosquitoes. To prevent your baby from catching these diseases, it is best to use bed nets or mesh windows. You can also use mosquito repellent creams for your baby after consulting with a doctor. There are also liquid, card and coil repellents available that are safe and effective against mosquitoes.</li><li>It is best not to take your baby out during monsoons, especially when it is raining. The humidity and the change in temperatures might lead to your baby catching the flu. If you have to take your baby out, make sure that your baby is covered correctly and completely dry throughout your outing. If you go out, avoid dirty areas with puddles and mud. Ensure that you are not taking your baby to crowded places as it’s easier to get infected with people around. When you take your child outdoors, keep wet wipes handy to ensure your baby stays clean all the time.</li><li>Some infants are allergic to specific pollen and allergens. Make sure your baby is kept away from these during the rains. If you notice any rash, redness or other symptoms, consult your doctor immediately and get it checked.</li><li>Check your house for dampness, leakage before the monsoon arrives. Get them fixed if there is a problem. Check for fungus or moulds around the house. Secure the loose electric wiring, if any. Clean the drains and keep bathrooms hygienic</li><li>Always feed freshly prepared food to your baby in monsoon as food tends to spoil quickly in monsoon.</li><li>Since you can’t always find clean water when you’re outside, make sure you carry a small bottle of sanitiser and use it to clean your hands whenever handling the baby.</li><li>Many doctors recommend getting a flu booster shot when the monsoons are around. Make sure your baby gets all his/her shots before the monsoon.</li><li>Since a baby is primary indoors in monsoon (s), he doesn’t need a daily bath. Two to three times a week, and especially around humid times, can give your baby relief from the heat as well. If your child has been outside, definitely give him a nice warm water bath.</li></ul>

Taking the right precautionary steps before the arrival of any season will keep your baby safe and healthy.

Monsoon Precautions for Babies | Tips & Precautions

Taking the right precautionary steps before the arrival of any season will keep your baby safe and healthy.

Monsoon Tips and Precautions for Babies

It's just a few days to your child's birthday and you are wondering if everything will go according to your plan or not. Well, here are a few things you can prepare beforehand so that on your child's special day you are not busy with organising and execution and are able to spend quality time with your child: <ul><li>If you're calling your child's friends over, make all the calls at least 3 days prior and take the confirmations so you can make the arrangements accordingly.</li><li>If you are planning to get food from outside, call the catering people and make appropriate arrangements for the special day.</li><li>If you are going to plan an activity for children, get all the materials for the same and keep everything in one place so that you don't have to rush around for everything on the day of celebration.</li><li>Get a house help for the whole day to help you with the arrangements prior to the celebration and also to help you tidy up the place post the celebrations.</li><li>Make your child try on the clothes and footwear before their birthday so that if any changes are to be made, they can be done within time.</li><li>Wind up all your personal/professional work one day prior to your child's birthday so that you can give your undivided attention to your child.</li></ul> If you are confused as to what you can do to make your child's birthday fulfilling, take a look at our 'Birthday Celebration Ideas' article to get some ideas.

Don't fuss about the preparations on the day of the celebration of the child's birthday, instead, see what you can manage prior to the celebration to make the day less stressful.

Preparing for your childs Birthday

Don't fuss about the preparations on the day of the celebration of your child's birthday, instead, see what all you can manage prior to the celebration to make the day less stressful.

<h2>Here are the quick tips on How to tell a joke to kids.</h2> <h2>Remember, Jokes aren’t funny unless you tell them in a funny way. Read on to know more quick tips.</h2> <ul><li>Believe in the joke you are telling - If you think it's funny, kids are more likely to agree.</li><li>Relax - If you feel awkward, so will the kids.</li><li>Vary your voice - Monotone speech makes the joke boring.</li><li>Signal the punchline - A little pause adds to the suspense.</li><li>If they don't laugh, give up - Desperation isn't funny.</li><li>Believe in the joke you are telling - If you think it's funny, kids are more likely to agree.</li></ul>

Jokes aren’t funny unless you tell it in a funny way. Read on to know more quick tips

How to tell a joke to children that makes them laugh

Jokes aren’t funny unless you tell it in a funny way. Read on to know more quick tips

Ravina Sewani

Head injuries are common in children and teens. They can hurt the scalp, skull, brain, or blood vessels. Mild head injuries include swelling or bump, small cuts or scrapes on the scalp or forehead. The main symptom here is pain. Treating mild injuries:<ul><li>For a scrape or cut, wash it off with soap and water. For any bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound using clean cloth. Press for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped.</li><li>For a bump or swelling, use a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a wet cloth. Put it on the bump. Do this for 20 minutes. This will prevent big bumps and helps with the pain. Repeat this again in 1 hour, then as needed.</li><li>Watch your child closely during the first 2 hours after the injury. Have your child lie down and rest until all symptoms have cleared. Note: mild headache, mild dizziness and nausea are common.</li></ul> Types of Head Injuries:<ul><li>External and involve the scalp</li><li>Internal and involve the skull, brain, or blood vessels</li></ul> A head injury can cause a concussion, contusion, fracture, or bleeding.<ul><li>A concussion is a type of mild brain injury. It happens when a blow to the head moves the head back and forth with a lot of force.</li><li>A contusion (bruise) happens when a blow to the head injures the skin and the soft tissue under it. Blood from small blood vessels leaks, causing red or purple marks on the skin.</li><li>A skull fracture is a break in the skull bone.</li><li>Bleeding can happen on and under the scalp and in or around the brain.&nbsp;</li></ul> A child with a head injury might:<ul><li>Have a swollen scalp</li><li>Have a headache</li><li>Lose consciousness (pass out)</li><li>Vomit once or twice</li></ul> Diagnosis:Doctors diagnose head injuries by asking questions about how the injury happened and doing a careful exam of the head. Mild brain injuries don't need medical tests. Doctors often do a CAT scan of the head if the injury is more serious. If the head injury is anything other than a head bump and mild cuts, take your child to the doctor for treatment. Signs that the injury could be serious include:<ul><li>Loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes</li><li>Continued vomiting</li><li>Confusion</li><li>Seizures</li><li>A headache that gets worse</li><li>Isn't walking or talking normally</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Kids should always wear a bike helmet that fits well and is made according to standard guidelines.</li><li>Kids should use the proper sports gear.</li><li>Use a child safety seat or seat belt every time they're in the car.</li></ul>

Head injuries are common in children and teens. They can hurt the scalp, skull, brain, or blood vessels.

Head bump in children

Palak Vyas

What works best in the cases of addiction is that a similar kind of less harmful or useful thing should be replaced in place of the previous addiction. For example, if a child is addicted to sugar, you can provide him/her with raisins or dates in place of sugar. <ul><li>When you see your child is obsessed with a fictional character like spider-man or superman, try showing him/her the positive and humanly traits of the character.</li><li>Try and incorporate or relate those with your daily incidences.</li><li>Give them more humanly touch.</li><li>Eventually, you can identify a similar character from your family and relate their human traits with that of the fictional character your child is obsessed with. For example, you can relate your child’s father with Superman, tell them, “The way Superman saves the world and fights evil, your father does the same. He built us this house, he works and earns, takes care of us when we are sick so basically he also protects us”.</li><li>Give them the idea that these are imaginary or fictional characters inspired by real-life, science and technology.</li><li>It is okay for a child to be attracted to superheroes as long as (s)he is learning something good from them. This is where they enjoy their little innocent world of imagination. Let them feel happy and enjoy their world of superheroes and other characters. Eventually, when they grow up, they will come to know the difference between real and imaginary.</li><li>These characters are made in such a way that not only children but young and old everyone is inclined towards them.</li><li>All you have to see that their addiction does not come in their way of studies or their growth.</li><li>If you feel that because of this (s)he keeps getting distracted, explain to them that there is a time and place for everything. One cannot talk about the same thing all day long. There are several more things to explore so take them for visits at the zoo or a museum to keep them away from the imaginative world for a while.</li></ul>

Addiction/obsession is not something which can be immediately worked upon.

Dealing with fictional character addiction in children

Samiksha Choithani

Air travel with kids can be challenging for parents of young children. But, remember they are exploring every time they experience a unique situation they are sure to react.Here are some tricks that can help you to keep your calm and happy during the travel:<ul><li>Some children, even adults experience pain in ears while take off if that is the case with your child give them a glass of warm water and guide them to sip it slowly this will help to reduce the pain. Keep talking to them and never insert ear buds in this situation.</li><li>You can also keep a surprise toy in the hand bag and give them a surprise, this will keep them busy throughout the transit.</li><li>Have some story books with you, read them a story or you can tell them stories about the place you are visiting, people you will meet etc.</li><li>If the child is on breast feed, give them proper just before the flight. If the child is hungry he/she is sure to get cranky due to delayed feedings.</li></ul>

Air travel with kids can be challenging for parents of young children. Be patient with them as they are always on the quest of exploring new things.

Travelling with a child in an airplane

There are two types of carrier available in the market, one is a soft pouch like for young infants and other is the structured frame for older babies. Things to take care of:<ol><li>It should have straps that prevent your baby from falling or slipping out.</li><li>Needs to have padded head support.</li><li>It should fit your baby’s size and weight.</li><li>The shape of the carrier should be deep enough to support your baby’s back.</li><li>The leg opening should be small so that the baby doesn’t slip off.</li><li>Should be easy and comfortable for you and the baby both.</li><li>Avoid carriers that have pinch points where your baby’s fingers might get stuck.</li><li>See that the metal frame around the baby’s face is padded.</li><li>Fabric or material should be strong and durable. Fasteners should be heavy and strong.</li><li>The carrier should have some pockets and zippered compartments to put handy things like a small bottle and handkerchief.</li><li>Never use a framed carrier for an infant who is 0 to 4 months old.</li><li>Any time when you want to lean forward, bend from the knees and not from the waist.</li><li>Check the carrier regularly for fabric, stitching and fasteners.</li></ol>

A baby carrier is a soft padded carrier that you wear on your front to carry your baby comfortably.

Selecting a carrier for your baby

A helicopter parent is a parent who pays extremely close attention to a child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. Helicopter parents are so named because, like helicopters, they "hover overhead", overseeing every aspect of their child's life constantly. What does helicopter parenting look like? Helicopter parenting looks different at every stage in life. Whether it's standing over a teenager's shoulder as they do their homework or shadowing a younger child each time they ride their bike, helicopter parenting comes in many forms. Toddler<ul><li>trying to prevent every minor fall or avoiding risks</li><li>never allowing the child to play alone</li><li>Regularly Speak to school teacher/sir for performance and reports</li><li>not encouraging in developing and supporting their growth.</li></ul> Primary age&nbsp;<ul><li>speaking with school administrators to make sure the child has a specific teacher because they are perceived as the best</li><li>choosing a child's friends for them</li><li>enrolling them in activities without their input</li><li>completing homework and school projects for your child</li><li>refusing to let the child solve problems on their own</li></ul> Teen years and beyond<ul><li>not allowing your child to make age-appropriate choices</li><li>becoming overly involved in their academic work and extracurricular activities to shield them from failure or disappointment</li><li>contacting their college professor about poor grades</li><li>intervening in disagreements with their friends, co-workers, or employer</li></ul>&nbsp;Characteristics&nbsp;A helicopter parent is someone who is always hovering around his/her child – doing things that the child can do alone, taking care of problems the child can solve on his own and finishing the child's chores. It means micromanaging every aspect of your child's life and being over-involved in their lives, all in the name of love or care. <ol><li>Love –&nbsp;Love is the basic parental feeling that urges many helicopter parents. You love your child so much that you want to protect him or her from anything, even the tiniest bit negative and ensure they are kept out of harm's way. However, in that attempt, you end up giving excess attention to our child's life.</li><li>Need for control –&nbsp;Even if your child is growing older, you still tend to think of him or her as your baby and think you need to control every aspect of his or her life.</li><li>Information explosion –&nbsp;Like how you are doing now, these days, the Internet and other smart devices have no shortage of information on how to raise your child. You read too many of these articles that you want to make sure you get everything right every minute of every day for your child.</li><li>Anxiety –&nbsp;As a parent, if you are constantly anxious and second-guess every move you make, you tend to project these fears onto your child and get anxious about the child's safety and happiness as well.</li><li>Overcompensation –&nbsp;If you were not shown affection or love from your parents when you were a child, you tend to overcompensate for that loss and smother your kids with extra attention and care.</li><li>Changing World –&nbsp;The world is constantly changing and becoming more challenging and competitive. You get nervous about your child's future and think that without you every step of the way, they will never survive out there in the big, imperfect world.</li><li>Peer pressure –&nbsp;You see your friends and neighbours constantly fussing over their kids and feel the pressure to do so as well.</li></ol>&nbsp;Effects on ChildrenHelicopter parent can have adverse effects on both you and your child. Below are some of the effects of helicopter parenting: <ul><li>Lack of Physical fitness&nbsp;as the parent is overprotective</li><li>Frustration&nbsp;in a child due to over-involved in lives</li><li>Kids get lesser&nbsp;mental exercise Get spoil&nbsp;as a parent provide all facilities as per their demand</li><li>Have difficulty in social gathering due to a&nbsp;lack of social skills.</li><li>Dependent&nbsp;on parent&nbsp;</li><li>You end up having&nbsp;negative feelings&nbsp;all the time</li></ul> Pros of Helicopter ParentingIt seems that some people who have chosen to take part in this parenting style are happier than those who picked a different style. There are a few reasons why that could be the case. <ul><li>Happy environment -&nbsp;Helicopter parents are very strict, and they never let their children take part in things they do not know about. Perhaps they are happier simply because they always know where their children are, what they are doing, and who they are doing it with.</li><li>Reliable -&nbsp;Children who have really strict parents constantly pushing them to do their best usually grow up to become incredibly reliable.</li><li>Protection -&nbsp;Kids who always have their parents hovering over them seem to be less likely to get into any trouble when they are young. That is because their parents always seem to know what is going on as far as their kid goes.</li></ul> ﻿Cons of Helicopter ParentingParents who want to raise a confident child probably should not pick this style of parenting. These parents make their child feel bad about themselves if they are too critical, which is understandable. <ul><li>Self-confidence –&nbsp;Child is always dependent on their parents since childhood. This could make the child feel as though they will never be good enough. This kind of environment is not very likely to have much self-confidence.</li><li>Limited opportunities -&nbsp;It is often necessary for a child to fail and learn from their mistakes. Unfortunately, helicopter parenting limits children's ability to engage in this opportunity and control the child's opportunities.</li><li>Anxiety -&nbsp;The parenting technique can cause anxiety in a child. As parents were actively involved in their school work or created very structured environments during their youth, they were more likely to have depression and anxiety as adults and were less perseverant.</li></ul>

Helicopter parenting is often referred to as the over part in over-parenting. It involves excessive levels of involvement and control by parents in every aspect of their child's life constantly.

Helicopter Parenting

Dr Ajab Primuswala

<ul><li>When you say that your child is lying, there are two aspects to it. Whether the child is lying to save himself/herself or whether the child is lying for fun sake.</li><li>If the child is lying to get away from punishment for something which they did, it is their defence.</li><li>Make it a point to make them realise that their behaviour is unaccepted. You can do this by telling them, “Irrespective of whatever you have lied, I know the things you have done. You can’t hide it from me.”</li><li>If they are lying for fun, make them realise that there are consequences for this lying habit.</li><li>Lying is something which they are using as a defence mechanism or as a method of manipulating and altering the truth.</li><li>Here, being calm is the most important requirement for the parent because as parents we feel, “Oh! How can my child lie to me?”</li><li>You have to be very sure that your child is lying to you. You will have to talk to them and give them a solid proof that you know they were lying.</li><li>You have to be sure and be thorough with the facts because children are very smart. If you just say, “You are lying and I know”, they will not agree to it. So keep your facts ready and then confront them.</li><li>Confronting your child has to be an immediate action after the episode. If you know that your child has lied to you today, then confront him/her there and then. Do not keep it hanging.</li><li>Lying tendency also comes with the concept of fear. Maybe your child is too scared of sharing his or her stuff with you and that's the reason they might be lying to you.</li><li>Here, what you can do is, try and gain that trust and develop a rapport with your child where the child doesn’t want to lie to you. It is just that they are scared of your behaviour towards them and this is motivating them to lie.</li><li>So first check for yourself that whether you are the reason behind your child’s lying. If yes, you can rectify yourself and go ahead and reassure them that they can share anything and everything with you. Tell them, “It’s okay, I will handle it and you can trust me completely, you don’t need to lie to me”.</li></ul>

Children lie when they feel they actions will not be accepted by their parents. Assure your child that you will be there to support them when things go downhill.

Dealing with child's habit of lying

Parameters for selecting baby wipes are branded or generic, scented or unscented, disposable or reusable. <ul><li>You can choose a generic product to be cost-effective if you are comfortable with it.</li><li>Some babies have highly sensitive skin. So for them, you can opt for unscented wipes and even reusable cloth wipes.</li><li>Before buying in bulk, it is recommended that first you try a handful of variety and decide for yourself which suits your child the best.</li><li>Baby wipes come in two different packaging. One is a plastic box and other is a pop up wipe box. The plastic box is refillable so it's more convenient. Go for the one you’re comfortable with.</li><li>Flush-able wipes are also available; you can directly flush them off.</li><li>You can also find reusable and disposable wipes. Disposable wipes are convenient and more sanitary. The reusable wipes are recommended for infants, newborn babies whose skin is very sensitive. This is an economical and eco-friendly option as well. You can experiment with both the types and depending upon the convenience and suitability of your child, you can use any.</li><li>Always read the ingredient list for the disposable wipes. Select alcohol-free and fragrance-free product.</li><li>Compare the sizes available and check which one is cost-effective and solves the purpose.</li><li>Do not reuse disposable wipes. Always moisten reusable cloth wipes with warm water and clean them thoroughly after use.</li></ul>

Baby wipes are wet cleaning clothes used for hygiene purposes. Buy wipes which are gentle on your baby's skin.

Selecting baby wipes for your child

Nightmares/unpleasant (bad) dreams are common among preschoolers as this is the age when they start understanding about normal fears and their imagination is highly active. These unpleasant dreams disrupt child’s sleep and causes distress. Nightmares usually occur in the middle of the night or early morning. According to science, dreams are just a representation of what has been put in our brains. If the child is watching too many violent games or action thrillers or if (s)he has had a fight with friends/family members, (s)he can have bad dreams. Sometimes a verbal fight during the day with anybody can convert into violent dream. As a child, the unpleasant dream is mostly related to ghosts, witches or may be losing both or either of the parents. When they express this, be very sure and precise about how you are going to go ahead with this information and you should assess what kind of surrounding they are being a part of. When your child gets startled and wakes up from sleep:<ul><li>The first thing to do when they wake up startled because of a bad dream, is to give them a warm hug and tell them that you are always around them and so there is no need to worry. Ask them to openly express whatever they have gone through or felt in the dream. This is the basic thing which you can do to calm your child during and after their unpleasant dream.</li><li>Switch on some lights, dark rooms are scary for children. It can help them go back to sleep.</li></ul> There are three ways of knowing whether your child is having unpleasant dreams or not:<ol><li>The first is if the child wakes up in the middle of the night and starts screaming and is disturbed.</li><li>The second if the child suddenly starts clenching his teeth in sleep. The child is irritated, restless and may keep twisting and turning through the night.</li><li>The third thing can be that the child wakes up in the morning and expresses that (s)he has had a bad dream and gives you the details.</li></ol> In all the three cases just work the following things out:&nbsp;<ol><li>What's the child’s schedule and how the child is doing what the child is doing. Is there something which the child is viewing which is not so comfortable for the child?</li><li>Keep a continuous record of the things happening because children as young as 1 or 1.5 years start observing some cartoons on the television which have negative characters coming in, which might disturb them.&nbsp;Later on, they start seeing these cartoons as a part of their dreams and get scared. So you should keep a check on the kind of media they consume.</li><li>Another possibility could be, there might be something in the surrounding which is being talked about and they are not okay with it. May be as parents, you might be discussing something negative in front of them which they are reciprocating in their dreams.</li><li>One more concern could be, whether you are fighting in front of your children. Are you taking out your anger or rage in front of them? The child may start channelising your anger in their dreams. They may dream about ghosts or death and if they are expressing any such thing, you can analyse those expressions.</li></ol> Here are a few ways to avoid nightmares:<ul><li>Have a regular bed time schedule.</li><li>Try to give a sound and pleasant atmosphere to your child at home.</li><li>Snuggle your child while putting them to sleep, read good stories and talk about pleasant events.</li><li>Avoid scary movies, TV shows or threatening stories before bed time.</li><li>Also ensure that you not talking about any unpleasant event to other family members in presence of the child.</li></ul>

Nightmares/unpleasant (bad) dreams are common among preschoolers as this is the age when they start understanding about normal fears and their imagination is highly active.

Child experiencing unpleasant dreams

Getting the baby out of the cradle gets challenging, especially when the child gets comfortable in the cradle. However, it is important to get them on the bed or in a cot. This is how you can break the habit of cradle: <ul><li>Make the child sleep on the lap, keep the lap moving until the child sleeps, slowly make them sleep on the bed. If the child wakes up often, do not give up. Repeat this process for three to four nights and the child will get habituated to bed.</li><li>You can make the child sleep in the cradle but once the child is in deep sleep, pick him/her from the cradle and make them sleep on the bed. If the child wakes up, don’t repeat the process. Cuddle them and make them sleep on the bed only.</li><li>Try to reduce the motion of the cradle for a week and make the child sleep on the bed every alternate day, stick on this routine for a week.</li><li>Make sure any of these patterns are to be strictly followed to break the habit of the cradle. Children will get cranky and it will get even more difficult to handle them during sleepless nights but it will only be a matter of a week or 10 days and your child will enjoy a normal sleep habit.</li></ul>

Babies love to sleep in cradle because the swaying of cradle is soothing to them.

choking parenting concerns

Parenting issues are a part of the everyday parenting journey. Following article(s) might help you with your concern(s).

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Dealing with fictional character addiction in children

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Selecting a carrier for your baby

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Dealing with child's habit of lying

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